I used the search feature and incredibly, didn’t find one (huh?) so I decided to start it. It seems all of a sudden I’m a bay rum guy. I bought some samples of B&M bay rum soap, and then in rapid succession, the matching splash and a full tub of the soap. Then I bought two bottles of DRH bay rum splash on sale. This stuff is amazing to my nose. A while back I bought a sample of VIBR and didn’t like it at all, but I’m reconsidering the brand and am curious to try it again. And there’s Ogallala, Captain’s Choice, and on and on… there are so many brands and varieties out there to try. And probably even more opinions. Talk to me about bay rum. What are your thoughts, experiences, etc.?
I've only used one brand on a regular basis up to now-Stephan. It's been around-1897 was it's birth year. Very pleasant scent...the clove is nicely mixed in with other ingredients. I enjoy it....it's on my Can't Live Without This list. I recently bought the one from Gabel's....it's OK, but more clove in there. I've read that the best Bay Rum products do have solid clove as a major ingredient. I'm not a clove man but I do like Bay Rum for shaving. I may try Ogallala soon. But Stephan is, and has been, my favorite.
Yes, I’ve seen the brand mentioned. It seems quite a good value. Do you find the clove within “normal limits,” Paul? Not much experience with clove here. Gayle didn’t like it, so I tended to shy away from anything clovey.
I guess I'd say "normal" in that, as I described, it's blended in nicely with other ingredients that make Bay Rum shaving products popular.
This is interesting. I detect lemon in the Harris splash which btw, seems to have more depth, more going on relative to the B&M splash. The B&M splash seems more of a hearty and one-note fragrance. Interestingly, the B&M splash doesn’t smell identical to the soap (which seems relatively more complex to my nosebrain). Rather, it’s similar and complementary. What do you know about this? From what I’ve read, bay and clove are related botanically and have similar scent components, and that it’s difficult to “separate them out,” so to speak.
I guess that's the same thing I read about the bay/clove connection. Tough info for us clove haters(me and Gayle, that is). I've not tried Harris or B&M. By the way, all Bay Rums from Phoenix Artisan Accoutrments do NOT have a clove scent. What is the "one-note" in B&M?
Thanks for jumping in, Joseph...I was going to suggest he contact you, and for the reason you gave. We have a great thread here .
ok, question 1.. what’s the deal with “American-style” bay rum? I see this mentioned in various places on the web. In fact, DRH uses the phrase in their product copy.
Aaaah, I guess that wss a silly question. But it's nice that Bay is IT, with no other stuff involved.
In looking at Joseph's photo, it's nice to know Mike's has a Bay Rum. I may try that when done with my current Mike's(Unscented), which I like.
I guess you can't ask me "anything", because I have never seen that term. I will say that the DRH Bay Rum, imo, has a completely different smell than your typical West Indies BR---my preference.
For a nice change I find Ogallala Bayrum & sandalwood (some clove) + (2nd jug) a very nice splash cologne type of enjoyment. The soap works better with a just a brush loaded and then face lather. I still like to make lather with my bowl and it is not as good as I would like it but I'm a bowl lather at heart . I do not know why folks do not like clove in their Bayrum is beyond me but it has good skin health properties for clearing blemishes with some witch hazel clove combined from my testing over the years! Have some great shaves!
I see the old White Label B&M soap in your picture, Joseph. Have you tried a more recent B&M bay r(h)um product? I’m interested in knowing if what I have (current production) is perhaps more reminiscent of “your typical West Indies BR” - know what I mean?
Wow, I just got wind of your post! What a rum-markable rotation of products! In contrast, I have a simple aftershave assortment...no rum or reason...just what I like. I guess you could say my collection compared to yours is night and bay.
Would you consider the Derby City Shop Chop Shave Tonic a bay rum? If so, how would it compare to a "typical" bay rum?
